BU Women's Soccer Team Falls on Senior Day

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Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Visiting Boston University scored the game’s lone goal 1:07 into the second half and held off Binghamton women’s soccer 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex.

The Terriers, ranked No. 6 in the Northeast, have won 31 consecutive conference games.

On the deciding play, junior midfielder Megan McGoldrick sent a ball down the left side from near midfield. A Bearcats defender headed the ball away but it fell directly to Boston freshman midfielder Clare Pleuler, who cut to the middle with a burst of speed and unleashed a 19-yard shot that banked in off the far right post.

“I thought we gave a great effort today and on Senior Day we showed good energy and competed very well,” head coach Sarah McClellan said. “To hold Boston to 11 shots and generate our own chances ... our players showed lot of discipline. We were knocking at the door and I thought we ran out of time at the end. This performance helps prepare us for our final two games.”

The Bearcats matched the five-time reigning conference champions in shots 11-11 and had their best chances early and then late in the contest.

Just 51 seconds into the game, senior striker Jamie Holliday sent a corner kick into the middle where classmate Emily Pape squared up a sharp header that beat the keeper but just sailed wide.

With Binghamton pressing in the final minutes, Holliday chipped a dangerous ball over the top inside the box. With late substitution Samantha Crane charging toward the ball, Boston keeper Andrea Green came out and just punched it clear before dropping Crane to the surface in the collision.

Senior forward Kerry Sullivan had Binghamton’s other good chance midway through the second half. She took a pass on the right side from classmate Sarah Furminger, dribbled into the box on the right and unleashed a high, driving shot from 18 yards that Green tipped over the crossbar at the last moment.

The Bearcats hit the road for a long two-game swing to Baltimore and then Burlington to finish the regular season. Binghamton plays Thursday at UMBC and then Sunday at Vermont, needing two wins and some help to squeeze into the America East playoffs for the eighth time in the last nine years.

“It’s always bittersweet on Senior Day,” McClellan said. “You celebrate but also realize it’s the last home game for these wonderful student-athletes. I’m proud of this senior class but they know we still have work to do this season and we’re looking forward to continuing what we’ve started.”